Calls for emergency helipads on Panama high rises

(newsroompanama.com) If you live above the 7th floor in any apartment building in Panama it’s time to get your building adminstration to check out its emergency plans and fittingd or there might be a disaster waiting to happen.

If there is a fire above the seventh floor of any high rise there is no ladder or fire hose that can reach that high.

The country’s civil emergency service, Sinaproc, is producing a strategy for the development of new protocols for high rises but basically the emergency requirements will rely on self sufficiency, meaning that it will be in the hands of the building’s residents.

Sinaproc says there is an urgent need for skyscrapers to have their own helipads and special measures for "old buildings" that do not have appropriate security systems.

The Minister of Government, Roxana Mendez, said her office has directed most of the resources allocated to this problem towards the purchase of helicopters.

In addition, Sinaproc has acquired equipment to rescue people from balconies without having to use giant cranes.

Sinaproc said that the Fire Department has to enforce the rules to ensure that the buildings own precautions are in place. The Chief Security Office, Carlos Rodriguez, said there were daily inspections to check the status of alarm systems, electricity, gas and sprinklers and evacuation plans, stairs and signage.

But to ensure the proper state of these systems is primarily up to the residents.

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Original Source: newsroompanam.com
Date Retrieved: October 5, 2010.